If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Hi all,I posted this on the jet pack thread but probably should have done it here as the 'traffic' seems better [so,moderator,feel free to delete wot u want]....goes like this... Me+a sidekick had disscusions today about found SW parts...he seems certain the jet pack beacon is scme kind of BRAUN hair curling device handle + says he has 1 or even 2...they were his mothers so the age would be right...they reportedly have the curved center + the mesh thimble [over the light]onthe end...I have NOT seen these yet and it will take a while to retrieve the parts....my mate is an SW parts nut so he knows wot he's looking at...just hope his memory is as good!...Ill post news of this as soon as it is in my hand ...one way or another
comments anyone? ">
silence+tumbleweeds...
this is where I hear a chorus of ,WE KNOW THAT!,

I couldn't remember which side the light was supposed to go on, but the size fit better on the right side, so that's where I put it. It's just another one of those flashing light thingies, this time in sort of a beacon shape. I came across it at Target.

It's supposed to be a necklace...again, I fail to see the sexual attraction supposedly inherent in flashing lights. Perhaps these companies believe we are related to moths, bees, or mosquitos. I hope no one tries to ask my jet pack out on a date.

It twists on and off, and I reach up inside my pack to turn it on/off. It flashes red, blue, green, purple, and teal. If I decide that I don't like the whole thing flashing, I'll paint the lower part of it so only the top shows. It's much brighter than the picture shows.

The best part is, it took less skill and less time than the Easiest Rangefinder Lights Ever!

A couple of guys who bought a light beacon from me had asked for a directions to install a light inside. I don't have an offcial diagram drawn but I will be working on one. For the time being, let me explain how I did mine.

First the bulb. Any flash light bulb or large white LED will work. If you use a flash light bulb as I did, you will need to grind the flange just below the buld off with a Dremel tool. Then solder a wire to the bottom contact and one the the side casing of the bulb. If you use a LED then just solder them to the leads. My power source is 4 AA batteries. They last me about 6 hours or so. You'll need a small to medium size switch and a battery case. Both can be obtained from Radio Shack. Wire the light to the battery pack with the switch on either the positive or negative side of the circuit to turn in on and off. Then assemble the beacon with the bulb inside. I mounted my switch to the back of my jet pack (side facing me) so I can easily turn it on and off. The battery pack is stuffed inside the pack through the hole that my strap comes through.

I just found these clip on LEDs that run off watch batteries & flash 3 different colors. They are super bright & look like emergency lights! I think this would look awesome lighting up a beacon. The display was wired to run off 3 AA batteries so you could rewire it & run a remote switch on your pack somewhere. I don't have a a scanner but I'll try to post a pic tonight.

Ooooh,...tell me more about these watch battery LED's.My jet pack is already completed,and closed up.I have a/the machined jet pack beacon,and a hollow threaded nylon bolt which fastens it to the pack by screwing it on from the outside.I did it this way just in case something like this came along,and I could wire up a very small lighting system for my beacon.Unfortunately it must be small,but these watch battery lights sound like a perfect solution to my particular application.AAA batteries would fit,but I could only have enough room to wire one battery,and it would have to be a direct solder to the LED,...although I suppose a micro switch would be possible,but still a single AAA battery isn't alot of juice.

They take 3 watch batteries but the one I saw displayed used 3 AA's. They LEDs flash blue & yellow & are extremely bright. I think they cost about &#36;7 each. They remind me of aircraft marker lights or emergency vehicle lights. I bought them at a costume shop. They also had some that lit up blue, yellow, & red.

Actually, you can also buy them that flash just one color -- red or blue or whatever. I think the handle looks a little bit different on those, though, but I saw both versions at Target in the flashlight section.

I've been using a homemade beacon for a few years now, but someone out there MUST be making/casting these things. I felt like such an idiot when I saw someone else's beacon at Celebration II. Any leads on these? In a hollow version?

Hey, I need help on this topic too, and I think that the best way is to buy one of these Mini-Maglites, but get one of those that sells at any Dollar Store, but they have two different sizes, regular size and extra small. I have the regular Mini Maglite (&#36;1), but I'm gonna buy the extra small one that comes in a set with a pocket knife, a pocket plier (leatherman-gerber style), and it costs around &#36;5 for all. Get a small Hair Spray or water cap (clear or opaque/clear). I'll try to experiment, and a washer big enough to fit the maglite in. Use either glue or solder the washer to the maglite, and do a hole in the JP to fit the bottom of the maglite. That would give you the ease of replacing the batteries from it. or you could try to make something like running a cable from the maglite to somewhere in the Jet Pack to install the batteries.

Be advise, that this is just an idea and I'm willing to experiment with it in the really near future. The results will be given to you once I'm done with it. Any other ideas will be posted. Any questions, PM/email me.

Would you say the beacon is white light or yellow? What about the flashing rate? I was thinking about using those screw-in caps for the tires that flash with movement. I figure with the bounce of your step, they should keep the flash rate interesting if not consistant.

Well... he plans on it, he just wants to use me as the "testbed" first since he's never made them before. I'll let you know how they come out once he's done and I'll tell him there may be interest in more.

batninja- Hey Eric! I was the Fett you saw at C2 with the beacon. You gave me your email to send you info on the guy (yes, the guy from here making them), but when I tried to email you, it bounced, saying it didn't exist or whatever. Glad to see you finally made your way to TDH!